DY Patil Stadium to host India-Australia final ODI

The City will have a new international cricket venue after the Brabourne Stadium and Wankhede Stadium when DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai will host the seventh and final One-dayer between India and Australia on November 11.

It was also decided at the Managing Committee (MC) meeting of the Mumbai Cricket Association on Friday that the Cricket Club of India will host one of the three Tests between India and Sri Lanka this year end, the dates of which are yet to be finalised.

The joint secretary of MCA, Hemant Waingankar, told Hindustan Times that the MCA and the DY Patil Sports Association (DYPSA) will sign an agreement shortly for the conduct the ODI.

"We are very happy. The stadium is ready to host a ODI," former India pacer and the sports director of DYPSA, Abey Kuruvilla, told HT.

The flood-lit stadium hosted three Mumbai Indians' home matches and the final in the inaugural Indian Premier League last year, and is a favourite for most of the international sportspersons.

Rahul Dravid was the latest to join the list of its admirers early this week when he said: "I have been blown away by the facilities here. I would like to play an international here before I finish."

CIC meeting on Monday

Meanwhile, the MC also decided to conduct the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) meeting on August 31 and not wait for its chairman Sunil Gavaskar's return to India on September 15.

The selection committees of the various age groups including Ranji Trophy, the coaches and support staff of the State teams. Also the Mumbai under-22 trials is scheduled to begin in mid-September and the selectors have to attend them.

The MC also took strong objection to selector Shishir Hattangadi going to the press airing his displeasure over the selection of the Mumbai team for the recent-Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai.

It was understood that Hattangadi airing his views has tarnished the image of MCA. "There is a decorum that has to be adhered," said Waingankar.

The CIC, on Monday, will decide if any action has to be taken against Hattangadi.